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How Do You Start Learning Crypto Investing for Free Before Paying for a Course?
A free learning path for Australians, and the signs you are ready for structured education.
Short answer: You can start learning crypto investing for free by covering the basics, setting up security, learning how projects are researched, and writing a simple first plan. Collective Shift suggests using free videos, government guidance and exchange learning hubs first, then paying for a course when you want live support and ongoing research.
Key points (TL;DR)
- Free resources cover the language and basics well.
- Learn security before you move any meaningful amount.
- Decide early whether you are an investor or a trader.
- Write a simple first plan, even on one page.
- Pay for education when you want live access, accountability and research.
What is a free path to learn crypto investing?
- Learn the basics. What a blockchain is, what Bitcoin is, and how coins differ. Start with what is cryptocurrency and our beginner resources.
- Read government guidance. Moneysmart and the ATO both publish free information on crypto risks and tax.
- Watch a free structured introduction. Ben’s free long-term investing course, embedded below, covers security, exchanges and buying.
- Learn how to research a coin. See how to research a cryptocurrency before you buy.
- Write a one-page plan. Your goal, how much you will invest, how often, and when you would sell.
Collective Shift also publishes free Collective Shift content, including videos and articles.
Watch: Ben Simpson on this topic
Key takeaway: Ben’s free course starts with security and choosing a reputable exchange, then asks whether you are an investor or a trader before you buy anything.
Key takeaway: Ben asks a set of honest questions to place yourself as a lower, medium or higher risk investor, and suggests using a product before you buy its token.
What should you learn first?
Security. Before buying anything meaningful, learn how to use two-factor authentication through an authenticator app, how to choose a reputable exchange, and how self-custody works. Ben’s free course starts here for a reason: in his words, start from no trust and build trust from there.
Our cold storage guide covers moving coins to a hardware wallet.
Are you an investor or a trader?
This question shapes everything you learn next. Long-term investors make fewer, planned decisions and focus on research, position sizing and selling rules. Traders make frequent decisions based on short-term price moves. Collective Shift teaches long-term investing through the 5-step SHIFT Method:
- S: Set your plan in writing, on a Strategy Sheet with goals, position sizes and exit rules.
- H: Hold Bitcoin as your core, ideally in self-custody.
- I: Invest in on-chain businesses with real users and revenue.
- F: Filter every coin for unlocks, dilution and liquidity before you buy.
- T: Take profits on the way up with a pre-planned Profit Ladder.
When is it worth paying for a crypto course?
Free learning is a great start. A paid course or membership tends to be worth it when you:
- want live sessions to ask about your own plan,
- want a method that takes you from strategy to security to selling in order,
- want ongoing research as markets change,
- want accountability from a community following the same steps.
Our guide on how to choose a crypto course in Australia has a 7-point checklist for comparing providers.
What is your next step?
If you would like a structured way to apply what you have learned for free, the Collective Shift Accelerator membership runs for 12 months and opens with 4 live cohort weeks, followed by ongoing access to research, workshops and the Live Crypto Portfolio (see our analysts’ portfolio buys and sells). It carries a 14-day guarantee. You can read member results from members, or check the company facts on our page Is Collective Shift legit?
Frequently asked questions
Can I learn crypto investing for free?
Yes. Free videos, government guidance from Moneysmart and the ATO, and exchange learning hubs cover the basics. Many people start there before paying for structured education.
What should a beginner learn first about crypto?
Security first: two-factor authentication, choosing a reputable exchange and understanding self-custody. Then learn how to research a coin and write a simple plan.
Does Collective Shift have free content?
Yes. Collective Shift publishes free articles and videos, including Ben Simpson’s free long-term investing course on YouTube.
How long does it take to learn crypto investing?
You can learn the basics in a few weeks. Building a written plan and the habit of following it usually takes longer, which is where live support helps.
When should I pay for a crypto course?
When you want live access, a step-by-step method, ongoing research and accountability, rather than more general information.
Where this guide comes from
- Collective Shift Academy: the 5-step SHIFT Method and Strategy Sheet
- YouTube: Full Long Term Crypto Investing & Trading Course (100% FREE), Ben Simpson, 2025-10-31
- YouTube: How to Win in Crypto in Less Than 6 Minutes, Ben Simpson, 2024-02-19
Collective Shift live sessions and Academy lessons are available to members. This guide is general education only and is not personal financial advice.
Last updated 31 Oct 2026. Written by Ben Simpson, Founder and CEO of Collective Shift.
General information only. Collective Shift provides research and education, not personal financial advice. We don’t manage your money or hold your crypto. Consider your own circumstances and speak with a licensed adviser and a registered tax agent before acting. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
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The 5-Step SHIFT Method
Every Collective Shift membership runs on the same five-step operating system inside the Wealth Engine. Process comes first, proof comes second, and outcomes follow from written rules rather than emotion.
S
Set Your Plan in Writing
Build your written Strategy Sheet before deploying capital so position sizing, risk limits, and invalidation rules are locked in advance.
H
Hold Bitcoin as Your Core
Anchor your portfolio around long-term Bitcoin conviction in 100% self-custody before taking selective altcoin exposure.
I
Invest in On-Chain Revenue
Focus on on-chain businesses with real fee generation, sustainable tokenomics, and verifiable user adoption, alongside the Live Crypto Portfolio (see our analysts’ portfolio buys and sells).
F
Filter Every Coin First
Run every asset through our Fundamental Asset Evaluation Framework, checking token unlock schedules, dilution, and liquidity before buying.
T
Take Profits on the Way Up
Execute pre-planned partial exits using your Profit Ladder so paper gains convert into realised wealth without guessing the exact cycle top.